Pubdate: Thu, 18 Apr 2002
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Trudy Beyak
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

DEATH EMPHASIZES DETOX CENTRE NEED

Health officials are avoiding media questions and have thus far not 
implemented the recommendations of a coroner's jury, but the untimely death 
of a 20-year-old Abbotsford woman is not going to be easily ignored.

At least, not if the father of Christena Constible has anything to do with 
the issue.

Christena died of a prescription drug overdose on May 12, 2000, and a 
coroner's jury in January found the Fraser Valley woefully lacking in detox 
and drug addiction services.

However, John Constible said nothing has changed and is asking who is 
accountable.

In fact, Constible said, the situation has become more desperate for youth 
and young adults struggling with drug addictions in the Fraser Valley.

His daughter died accidentally, due to an overdose of prescription drugs 
and methadone while under the medical care of Dr. James Swanney.

The coroner's inquest into Christena's death recommended a number of 
improvements to mental health services, including the establishment of a 
residential detox centre in the Fraser Valley.

Constible said he is very frustrated that the recommendations by the 
coroner have not yet been implemented. And the Abbotsford father said he 
has received "zero response" from his contacts with local Liberal MLAs.

Health Services Minister Colin Hansen has not responded to a request for an 
interview with the Abbotsford News on the question of a detox centre in the 
Fraser Valley.

Meanwhile, the provincial government shut down the Campbell Valley Women's 
Centre for young female addicts in Langley on March 31.

Langley-Abbotsford (Canadian Alliance) MP Randy White and the B.C. Civil 
Liberties Association protested the decision, citing the coroner's 
recommendations to add - not decrease - the number of detox services in the 
Fraser Valley.

Further funding cuts to health services are expected in the Fraser Health 
Authority at the end of this month to ward off a projected $136 million 
operating deficit by 2004 or 2005. Constible said he has also filed an 
official complaint with the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons, asking 
that it revoke the medical licences of Dr. Swanney and psychiatrist Dr. 
Sonia Uppal at MSA General Hospital as a result of his daughter's death. He 
also wants each of them penalized $25,000.

Those funds should be directed to rehabilitate drug addicted adolescents, 
said Constible. In addition, he said the hospital should be fined a total 
of $50,000, with the funds directed to educate hospital staff.

"If a doctor is guilty of wrong-doing, I believe it shouldn't be covered 
up. There should be justice for people like my daughter," said Constible.

Dr. Morris Van Andle, registrar for the College of Physicians, said the 
College intends to investigate and review Constible's allegations.

The College is currently reviewing Swanney's care after another of his 
Abbotsford patients, 45-year-old police officer Don King, died of pneumonia 
and an overdose of morphine.

Constible said he's weary of the lack of accountability.

The coroner has informed the health authority that MSA General Hospital 
must be upgraded to provide mental health services for a growing 
population, particularly services for patients requiring detoxification 
from either prescription or street drugs.

"Temporary implementation is necessary to prevent untimely deaths or 
unnecessary crises" until the new hospital is in service, according to the 
coroner.

It was also recommended that more mental health workers, including five 
more psychiatrists, be hired for Abbotsford and Mission. There was also a 
recommendation for the creation of a three-year pilot program to help dual 
diagnosis clients with mental illness and substance abuse addictions.

Fraser Valley health authorities did not return calls to the Abbotsford 
News as of deadline yesterday.

The coroner made the following recommendations specifically to the minister 
of health:

- - A residential detox centre (for short-term and long-term stay) with 
addiction specialists is needed for the Fraser Valley and an adolescent 
centre is needed at MSA General Hospital.

- - All health care professionals looking after a person with acute substance 
abuse and/or mental health problems should be part of a multi-disciplinary 
team, with a cross-trained mental health addiction case manager.

- - Patients should have more options for mental health care services, rather 
than being confined to their own health regions.
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